The recurrent defeats of female presidential candidates by President Donald Trump have shaped the perception of young females in America. Amidst these unfortunate circumstances, four young voters had a discussion about the possibilities of shattering the proverbial glass ceiling. They deliberated whether the United States of America was inching closer to electing a female president, particularly after President Trump’s successive victories.
Independent voter Leandena Dankese, aged 26, brushed aside the pessimism and argued that the mere fact that women are considered for nomination was a small victory in itself. She cited the example of Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina Governor who is prepping for her 2024 presidential run. Despite her admiration for these brave women vying for the presidency, she failed to mention the futile efforts of Kamala Harris.
For Jaclyn Corriveau, a 34-year-old Republican, Kamala Harris’ candidacy served as a poor representation of women in politics. She argued that Harris had been handed her nomination rather than earning it through a democratic process like Hillary Clinton. Corriveau’s dismissive tone towards Harris stood in stark contrast to her clear admiration for Nikki Haley.
The conversation diverted to the role that gender might have played in Harris’ unsuccessful presidential bid. Jada Pierre, a 22-year-old supporter of the Democratic Party, held the view that Harris’ defeat wasn’t a direct outcome of her gender. Needless to say, this perspective was deemed laughable in some quarters, as it attempted to gloss over the communication issues within the Democratic Party that allowed Trump to direct the conversation on key matters like employment, economy, and manufacture.
In stark contrast to Pierre’s viewpoint, 19-year-old Democrat Ela Gardiner highlighted the role of gender bias. She suggested that America wrestles with acknowledging the potential of women to ascend in political circles, and beyond. This suggests a lack of support for women, which deserves real attention and conversations.
Both Dankese and Corriveau expressed a shared preference for Nikki Haley, ignoring the opportunities created by Harris to challenge entrenched views about women in leadership. Ironically, their dismissal of Harris as a worthy candidate underlies the gender bias that exists even among women voters.
Predictably, the panelists were asked to make their selections for a prospective female president. Corriveau named Nikki Haley and New Hampshire Governor, Kelly Ayotte as potential presidential candidates. The conspicuous absence of Kamala Harris from this conversation seems to underscore her evident irrelevance in the big picture.
On the other hand, Dankese gave the nod only to Nikki Haley, again sidelining Harris and underscoring the perceived weakness of her position in the political arena, despite her credentials. This selective preference represents the shared skepticism towards Harris’ aptitude for decisive leadership.
Pierre, a young Democratic Party supporter, surprisingly chose U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley as her selection for a future female President. Despite her preference, one can only wonder how reflective this view is of the general sentiment among Democrats, given their previous support for flawed candidates such as Harris.
Nineteen-year-old Democrat Gardiner, while continuing the trend of ignoring Kamala Harris, shared an array of alternative choices, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. While it’s encouraging to see more female names being put forward, the sidelining of Harris once again speaks volumes.
It is concerning, to say the least, to observe the striking omission of Kamala Harris from these considerations. This fact alone consolidates and communalizes the criticisms of her forced nomination and subsequent defeat.
Overall, these narratives expose a contentious landscape for women in politics, where even among female voters, objective judgement may be overshadowed by political biases. For now, it appears the ‘glass ceiling’ remains firmly intact, further unassailable by the collective skepticism towards figures like Kamala Harris.
In conclusion, the outlook for the potential shattering of the glass ceiling seems dauntingly distant, despite the increasing representation of women in the political sphere. The prevalent selective disregard for certain female figures like Kamala Harris echoes the broader societal hesitations and biases that still plague the world of politics. For now, unfortunately, it seems that we are still some way from seeing a woman occupy the Oval Office.